1. Crate Training
Crates are very popular pieces of equipment these days. I use crates or pens when my puppies are young as places for them to rest during the day (with the door closed) as well as overnight too. My vehicle also has permanent fixed crates for them to travel inside safely when we're out and about.
When used well they can be safe spaces where dogs will choose to rest, and can be helpful in getting dogs used to periods of separation from their owner.
But unfortunately crates are often used very badly and result in unhappy, stressed dogs :(
Here's my advice should you want to use a crate your dog at any point.
2. Recommended Reading: "I'll Be Home Soon!" by Patricia McConnell
This 36 page read is a practical guide to help you understand why your dog is distressed and what you can do about it.
3. Recommended Reading: "Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs" by Malena DeMartini-Price
This 175 page read is a more in-depth guide to understanding separation anxiety, and features stories of real-life cases for readers to identify with.
Today I'm grateful for such excellent resources available to those people struggling with separation distress or anxiety in their dogs.
5 thoughts on “Top Tips for Avoiding Separation Distress”
Hi, thank you for this video.
I have watched so many since getting our puppy and this is honestly the best, most realistic method that I have seen. So I will definitely be giving this a go for our 14wk old pug puppy.
Just wondered, once your puppy is happy with you sitting reading etc how do you then start moving out of the room and getting them ok with not being able to see you?
Bella, our puppy, sleeps perfectly in the crate during the night but she is upstairs with us (which we are happy for her to be) during the day she cry’s the second she is in there which is why we are looking for a way for her to be ok for us to be able to go out. At the moment we take shifts in who is at home with her.
Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Yes you would build up to short periods of being out of the room and getting on with other bits and pieces. I’m the sort of person who wanders in and out of rooms doing things (often getting distracted lol!) so my pups learn that whilst I move around, I always come back. Does that help? 🙂
Hi I have a 5yo rescue that crys horrendously when left but generally as soon as he can’t hear/see us anymore he settles down until we come home. He is crated and doesn’t destroy his bed. Is that still separation anxiety? Thanks for any advice.
It’s a difficult one to answer without being there to look at things more. It’s possible he shuts down whilst you’re gone – hence him going quiet, but possibly he’s just frustrated about being shut in whilst you’re there and is barking because of that. If you’re worried, it’s worth getting a good behaviourist in to take a look.
Hi I have a 5yo neutered male rescue who creates big time when we leave but as soon as he cannot see or hear us he settles down. He is crated and doesn’t destroy his bed. Our other dog is in the crate next to him. Is this separation anxiety? Any advice will be gratefully received. Thank you.